Mixer cabinet



met, 24, 1950 w DUNN 2,527,407

MIXER CABINET Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 33 E !3 I h K I I6 &:7 6 i /3 Fig.2

t V l .-II I 23 5 0 so i 27-- 12 E I I I 31 42 3 L l I F lg 5 INVENTOR.

Zg/LLIAM E. DUNN MM? ATTORNEY Oct 2 1950 w. E DUNN 2,527,407

MIXER CABINET- Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6 WILLIAM E.DUNN yMM ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICEMIXER CABINET William E. Dunn, Westwood, Colo.

' i "Application September 4, 1948, Serial N 0.- 47,881

, 3 Claims. (o1. 3112- -23) 1 This invention relates to prefabricatedhousing or cabinet units of a general type commonly employed in multiplearrangements as kitchen, pantry, and like facilities, and moreparticularly to such units particularly adapted to house and operativelysupport electric mixers and similar equipment units in-a mannersusceptible of integration with other conventional cabinets, and has-asan object to provide an improved such cabinet unit. I A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangementof elements constituting af'cabinet for the housing and operativesupport of an electric mixer;

A further object of the, invention is toprovide an improved cabinetcharacterized by an altitudinally-reciprocable mounting platformautomatically responsive to manipulation of a cabinet hinged endclosure. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinetsusceptible of convenient manipulation to house and enclose an electricmixer within itsupper portion-and to alterna-- tively position andoperatively support said mixer in readily-accessible projectionthereabove.

A'further object of the invention is to provide improved means foroperatively interrelating an altitudinally-reciprocable platform and ahinged end closure in a cabinet to automatically reflect articulation ofsaidcover as corresponding, pro portional adjustment of said platform.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet forthe housing and operative support of an electric mixer that is simpleand relatively inexpensive of manufacture, susceptible of production ina wide range of particular sizes, proportionsjmaterials, and finishes,that adaptable to use either as an independent unit or in assembledcorrelation with other cabinet units, that is positive and eificient inoperation,

long-lived in. use, and characterized by marked utilitarian advantage. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists inthe construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointedoutinmyclaims, and

illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in

disclose otherwise concealed construction. Figure 3 is a fragmentary,detail. section, on an en-,

larged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 33 of Figure 2with the cover and platform of the unit in intermediate positions oftheir actuation range. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail,

bottom plan view, partly in section, of automatic latch meansoperatively associated with the movable platform of the unit. Figure 5is a fragmentary, detail section taken substantially on the indicatedline 5--5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 3illustrating a somewhat modified, alternative construction of theelements interengaging the unit cover and platform. Figure 7 is asection, similar-to Figure 1, through an alternative, modified unitconstruction embodying the principles of the invention, the electricmixer being omitted. Figure 8 is a front elevation,

partly in section, of the construction according to Figure 7 as openedand extended for operative positioning of I a mixer. Figure 9 is afragmentary, detail section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyon the indicated line 99 of Figure '7- with the movable elements of theunit in an intermediate position of their actuation range.

Electric mixers are in common and wide-spread use-in a variety ofparticular makes and constructions, such appliances requiring storagespace when not in use and an operative base or position to which theymay be transferred for practical employment. Iogether with the advent ofelectric mixers, it has become a general practice to supplyprefabricated cabinet units in a variety of sizes, arrangements, andproportions suscep tible of interrelation to constitute counters,tables, and the like, adapted to function as kitchen and pantryfacilities with marked conservation of space. Given the problem ofelectric mixer storage and operative positioning and the availability ofmultiunit cabinet installations, it is desirable and wholly feasible toprovide a cabinet unit particularly arranged to house and operativelysupport a mixer appliance with conservation of space and enhancedconvenience, and the instant in- -'material, and particular proportionsis shown as a hollow assembly, open at its upper end, comprised fromrigidly interrelated side walls It], front wall ll, rear wall I2, andbottom [3. A base l4 may be provided in'inwardly- -offset relation withthe front wall H to elevate the bottom l3 somewhat above the surfacesupportin the cabinet, as

is common practice, and a cover I5 is hinged at one of its margins tothe rear wall I2 in position to engage and close over upper margins ofthe walls I and II, at times, and to be swung upwardly out of engagementwith said wall I8 and H margins and into substantially coplanar relationwith wall I2 to fully open and expose the cabinet unit upper end, atother times, as is also conventional practice in the construction ofcabinets of various types. Since, in accordance with the concept of theinvention, only an upper portion of the cabinet interior is utilized forstorage of the electric mixer, an access opening closable by a hingeddoor It is formed through the lower portion of the front wall II, andthe interior of the cabinet served by said access openlng may befurnished with transverse partitions; or shelves H, in any convenient ordesired arrangement, adapting the cabinet lower interior for storageuses.

A rigid platform I8 is sized to. fit transversely within, tosubstantially fill, and to reciprocate altitudinally of the cabinetupper portion defined by the walls II], II and |'2, said platform beingpreferably furnished with guide arms or blocks I9 fixedly dependingtherefrom adjacent and for sliding engagement with inner surfaces of thewalls, II and I2, whereby tilting of said platform I8 out of a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the walls I and I2 is inhibited. Theplatform I 8 serves as a mounting and support for an. electric mixer 20,of any desired make or construction, whereof the base may rest upon orbe secured to the upper platform surface in any desired or convenientrelation.

The invention contemplates that the platform I8 carrying the mixer 20shall react altitudinally to opening and closing of the cabinet endcover I for retraction of the mixer Wholly within the cabinet upper endwhen said cover is closed and for elevation of said mixer into projectedrelation above the cabinet upper end when said cover is opened, theplatform It; registering with the upper end of the cabinet to positionthe mixer for use., To give effect to the contemplation of theinvention, an L-shaped fitting 2| is secured to and depends below eachside of the platform I8 with one of its legs inwardly paralleling theadjacent side wall I0, said fittings 2| being spaced along the platformside margins like distances forwardly from the cabinet rear wall I2, anda bracket arm 22 is secured to the inner surface of the cover I5adjacent each side thereof to depend adjacent and parallel to'thecabinet side Wall II inner surfaces when said cover is closed relativeto the cabinet, said arms 22 hence lying, in approximately the sameplanes as the vertical legs of the respective fittings 2| and beingmovable with the cover I5. A link 23 hingedly connects between the freeend of each bracket 22 and the vertical web of the fitting 2| on thesame side of the platform I8, clearance for said links 23- beingprovided between side margins of the platform and the adjacent cabinetside walls, and

the lengths of the so-related brackets 22 and links 23 are proportionedand correlated to lower the platform interiorly of the cabinet adistance sufficient for accommodation-of the mixer 20 between. saidplatform and the cover I5 when the latter is closed, and to elevate saidplatform into approximate registration with the cabinet open end whenthe cover I5 is swung into substantially coplanar relation with thecabinet rear wall |2, itv being obvious that the location of the fitting2| along the platform side margins, the particular 4 shape and length ofthe bracket 22 and location of said bracket relative to the hinge axisof the cover I5, as well as the link 23, are all susceptible ofvariation and adjustment to provide the desired range of platform l8altitudinal travel.

To minimize the effort necessary for elevation of the platform I8 andits mixer 20 through manipulation of the cover I5, the weight of saidplatform and mixer is largely counterbalanced through any practicalarrangement of means effective for such purpose, one such arrangementbeing illustrated as comprising a lever arm 24 hinged at one of its endsto each of the side walls It] below the lowermost travel limit of theplatform I8 and to swing through a vertical arc paralleling the sidewall to which it is attached. A link 25, suitably proportioned inlength, hingedly engages between the fitting 2| and an intermediatepoint of the associated arm 24, and a retractile coil spring '26operatively connects between the free end of the arm 24 and a pointonthe link 25 adjacent its connection with the fit- 7 ting 2 I, saidspring26 hence constituting the hypotenuse of a triangle whereof the legs arethe link 25 and the end of the arm 24 beyond said link on the side ofthe latter remote from the-arm attachment to the wall l0, saidhypotenuse increasing. in length as the arm 24 and link 25 are theplatform I'B beneath the approximate center line. of the latter inperpendicularly-bridging. re lationbetween the cabinet walls H and I2,said bar 21 preferably engaging through elongate loop guides/28v carriedby the platform under surface adjacent the bar endsv to limitoscillation of said 7 bar about its pivotin either'direction of itsmovement. An expansive coil spring 29 acts between one side of the bar2'!v and anabutment lug. 3U

fixed to the platform |8 under'surface in'laterally-spaced relation withsaid bar to normally and yield'ably hold said bar at one limit of itsoscillatory range, and latch plates 3| are fixed toinner surfaces. andadjacent the upper ends of thecabinet walls II and I;2.for engagement byends of. the bar 21' projecting beyond. the platform I8 margins whensaid platform is. elevated-L to registration with the cabinet upper end.The latchplates 31 are formed with notches-opening in their uppermargins-engageable bythe bar 2'! ends in the normal, spring-positioneddisposition of said bar, andlaterally-directed margins of said platesv3| are oppositely inclined or beveled downwardly and away from the pathofbar 21 upwardtravel for engagement with the margins ofthe-bar ends asthe latter ascend with the platform I8, said latch plate inclinedmargins open-- ating to-swing the latch bar ends against the pressure ofthe: spring 29- as the platform ap-- preaches-its upper limit, saidlatch bar: being-free. to. react to the pressure-of its spring for:engage ment ofiits endsinthe latchplate notches when. said bar endshavecleared the uppermost points,

75, ofLthe-latch plate margins. Theendofthe latch,-

bar 2] adjacent the cabinet front wall II is formed as or furnishedwithan actuating finger 32 fixedly ;upstanding therefrom past ,the forward' margin of the platform I 8, said finger .32 proyiding meansformanual shift of the latch bar 2'! against; the pressure of its spring29 and release of its engagement with the latch plate 3I notcheswhen itis desired to close the cover I5 andretract-the platform I8 and mixer 20within the cabinet. a

To avoid complications resulting from intrusion of the counterbalance orother mechanisms within the storage space ofthe cabinet lower interior,side panels 33 may befixed to bridge be tween lower portions of thecabinet walls I I and I2 ininwardly-spaced parallelism with theiadjacentside walls Ill, thereby'to form upwardlyopening pockets, along said sidewalls' for thereception 'ofthe actuating mechanism, and the storageshelves I] may in such case engage with and close between said panels33; it ,being convenient in such an arrangement to notch. upper cornersof the panels 33 adjacent the walls II and I2 for seated reception ofthe fingers I9 when the platform I8 is at its inner, or lowermost,position. a

The alternative construction illustrated by Figure Gis in all essentialoperative respects the equivalent of that shown in the preceding figuresand hereinabove described, .the only difference presented by theembodiment of Figure 6 being structural in' an actuating arrangementpermitting the .use of arelatively'much shorter member in substitutionfor the bracket 22 secured to the cover I5. As shown in Figure 6, arelatively quite short bracket 34 is fixed to the cover I5 under surfacemore closely adjacent the hinge axis of said cover than the bracket' 22,and a link 35 hingedly connects with and depends from the free' end ofthe bracket 34 between. platform I8 side margins and'the adjacentcabinet" walls In to hinged'connection at its lower end with an in-'terme'diatepoint of a lever .arm 36 hingedly projecting from the cabinetrear wall I2 below the platform I8 lowermost position for actuation in avertical are along the adjacent cabinet side wall In; the link 23hingedly: depending fromthe,

fitting 2I to hinged connection of its free end with the correspondingfree end of the arm 36, so that said latter arm operates as a lever ofthe third class to elevate or retract the platform I8 through the agencyof the link 23 as the link 35 is actuated to less degree through thedisplacement of the short bracket 34 consequent upon articulation of thecover I5 about its hinge axis.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 typify an alternative construction and arrangement ofelements adapted to give effect to the principles of the invention inassociation with a relatively narrow cabinet having its cover I5 hingedto the upper margin of one of the side walls II] for actuation betweenperpendicular and coplanar relation with said side wall; narrow cabinetsof the type illustrated being practical for association with othercabinet units of like height and depth, while the sidehinging cover I5requires a rearrangement of the elements for actuating the platform I8in order to eliminate obstruction of the platform forward margin andaccess to the platform-supported mixer when the cover I5 is open. a I Inthe alternative construction, a rigid yoke 31, generally U-shaped inplan, is hinged at its base by means of fittings 38 to and transverselyof the cabinet rear wall beneath th lowermost position of the platformI8 to dispose its generally parallel arms 31 for actuation in verticalarcs inward- 6 1 ly paralleling the cabinet side walls III beiieat saidplatform. The yoke arms 31f extend forwardly within the cabinet tohinged engagement of their forward ends with the lower endsof links 23hingedly depending from the platform fittings 2I, so that oscillation ofthe yoke 31 basejin its fittings 31 is reflected as altitudinaladjustment of the platform I8 interiorly of the cabinet, Linking theyoke 31 to and for reaction to manip-, ulation of the cover I5, arelativelyeshort bracket 34 is secured adjacent a rear margin of the cover I5 to project perpendicularly fromthehnder surface of saidcover in aminimum spacing-from the cover hinge axis, and an arm 39-is hinged atits upper end to said bracket and depends there: from between thecover-mounting side wall Illand adjacent margin of platform I8downwardlypast the adjacent yoke arm 31', and a link 40 hingedlyconnects th lower end of said arm.39 with, a point on the adjacent yokearm 3I,spaced for: wardly of the cabinet from the hingedly mounted yokebase, the linkages and connections above described being proportioned inan I obvious man-: ner to accomplish the desired travelcf the plate form'IB in response to opening and closing-0f the cabinet cover I5. As isindicated int-he drawings; the alternative construction just abovedescribed is adapted for operative association with counter-g balancingmeans of the type and construction; illustrated in the preceding viewsandhereinabove. explained. I

In any of the illustrated embodiments, orin other analogousconstructions, the improvement provides a useful and highly adaptablefacility for the storage and operative support of electric mixers andcomparable appliances in a manner con;- servative of space and userenergy; the cabinet cover I5 completing a secure protective housing forthe appliance'when closed to provide a smooth, horizontal Working areaavailable for many purposes, the latch bar positively and securely p'ositioning the platform and its supported appliances in position for use ofthe latter, and the upright disposition of the opened coverI5-introducing a minimum of interference when the appliance ispositioned for use. 3

Since many changes, variations, and modifica tions in the specific form,constructionfand arrangement of the elements shown and described may behad without departing'from the spirit of my invention, I wish to beunderstood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims,rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoingdescription.

I claim as my inventioni 1. In a mixer cabinet having an open-tophousing defining a straight-walled well in its upper portion and a coverhinged to said housing for actuation through a vertical are betweenopening and closing relation with th housing top, a platform laterallyof and reciprocable altitudinal- 1y within said well, connectionsbetween said cover and platform operable as an incident of coveractuation to elevate th platform to the housing top when the cover isfully open and to depress the platform within the housing well in spacedparallelism with the cover when th latter is closed, andselectively-releasable means automatically operable as an incident ofplatform upward travel to latch said platform in its uppermost position,means for counterbalancing the weight of said platform and its loadoperatively engaging between said housing and platform, said meanscomprising like arms similarly hinged to inner faces of opposed housingwalls beneath the platamigo? rem lowermost "position for actuation invertical ares paralleling said faces, like links 'hingedly'depenc'lingfrom platform side margins above said to hinged connectionof their lower ends wlthlpoints' of the corresponding arms spacedinweirdly from the arm free ends, and a retractile spring operativelybetween each arm free end and the end of the associated link adjacentthe platform. a

2. Ina mixer cabinet having an open-top housingdefining astraight-walled well in its upper portionand a cover hinged to saidhousing for actuation through a vertical are between opening and closingrelation with the housing top, a platfarm laterally of and reciprocablealtitudinally within said well, means for counterbalancing the weight ofsaid platform and its load operatively engaging between said housing andplatform, and selectively-releasable means automatically operable as anincident of platform upward travel to latch'said platform in itsuppermost position, connections between said coverand platform operabl'eas an incident of cover actuation to elevate the platform to the housingtop when the cover is fully open and to depress the platform within thehousing well in spaced parallelism with the cover when'thelatter isclosed, said connections comprising a single, relatively-short bracketfixedly projecting perpendicularly from the cover inner face near thecover hinge axis and adjacent one of the cover side margins for freeoscillation throughthe top of the housing well, a U-shaped yoke hingedat its base to one of the housing side walls belowthe platform lowermostposition for actuation of its arms through vertical arcs underlying theplatform margins paralleling the cover hinge axis and about an axisperpendicular to that of the cover hinge, links hingedly connecting theyoke'arm free ends with intermediate points of the overhanging platformmargins, a link hinged-1y depending from the free end of said bracketpast and below the adjacent yoke arm, and a link hingedly connecting thelower end of the bracket-engaged link with a point on the adjacent yokearm spacedly adjacent the yoke hinge axis.

3. in a mixer cabinet having an open-top housing defining astraight-walled well in its upper 8 portion ahd 'a cover-hinged to saidhousing for actuation tlsnr'cu'gh a vertical-arc between openmg andclosing relation with the housing top, a platform laterally of andreciprccabl'e altitudinally within 'said wellmeans for"counterbalancin'g the weightofsaidplatform and its load operativelyengaging betweensaid housing and platform,'and connections between saidcover and platform operable as an incident of cover actuation to elevatethe platform to the housing top when the cover is fully open and todepress the "platform within the housing well in spaced parallelism withthe cover when the latter is closed, selectively-releasable meansautomatically operable 'as an incident "of platform upward travel tolatch said platform in itsuppermost-position, said means comprising alatch bar perpendicul-aflytraversing and'pivoted atits center to theunder face of said platform in and projection beyond the intersectedplatform inargins, st'opsfiliiriiting oscillation or saidbar about itspivot in 0ne""direc'tion, a spring yielda'bly .nrging "said bar'totheoscillat-ory limit determined by said stops, notched plates fixed adja'cent the housing wall inner face tops 'inthe reciprocatory path of thebar "end projections, inclined margins on said plates engageable withthe bar end projetionsduring platform upward travel to oscillate saidbar about its pivot against the pressure of said "spring, said inclinedmargins leading to the notch "openingsof said plates, and :an actuatingfinger "upstanding from one 'of 'the loar end projections across andbeyond the platform margin remote "from the cover hinge axis WILLIAM E.DUNN;

REFERENCES C-IITED The following 'refe'rences are of record in the fileof this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

